revised 04.04.05
Kansas City InterfaithCouncil
hosted by CRES: promoting understanding among peoples of all faiths

THE EPS TASK FORCES: PERSONHOOD
ARTICULATING THE WISDOM FROM THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS
to address the three great crises of secularism:
Environmental destruction....Personal misdirection....Social fragmentation
EPS Overview Page   Research program

Next meeting of the Personhood Task Force:
September 2, 2004 at the Christian Science Center, Red Bridge Shopping Center, 7-9p


     "The gifts of pluralism have taught us that . . . our true personhood may not be in the images of ourselves constrained by any particular social identities.  When we realize this, out acts can proceed spontaneously from duty and compassion, and we need not be unduly attached to results beyond our control."

--From the "GIfts of Pluralism" Conference Concluding Declaration

 
Personhood Task Force Members
Name Group Telephone E-Mail
Kara Hawkins - Task Force Chair American Indian Spirituality 913.268.7223 KaraHawk@aol.com
Barb McAtee Baha'i h. 913.262.9319 
p. 913.641.0649
bmcatee@kc.rr.com
Vanessa Shields Buddhist 816.679.6192 nessaology@yahoo.com
Pam Peck Christian Scientist 913.268.8212 pcpeck99@hotmail.com
Caroline Baughman  Goddess/Earth Based 816.444.2937  carolineo@earthlink.net
Padma Krishna Hindu 913.491.1662 krishna63@earthlink.net
Jack Mulligan Roman Catholic 816.444.8663 JMMM@prodigy.net
Jessica Ovel Roman Catholic 913.432.2354 jessovel@yahoo.com
Cathy Knight Sufi h. 913.262.2509 
w. 816.756.0645
pvkansashome@juno.com
Ted Otteson Unitarian Universalist 816.931.8557 ottesont@umkc.edu
Sharon Connors Unity 816.373.0142 REVSANN@aol.com
Arvind Khetia  Vedanta 913.381.0896 akkhetia@hotmail.com
Karta Purkh Khalsa Sikh 816.561.5337 kpurkakhalsa@kc.rr.com

E-Mail All Personhood Task Force Members


Meeting Notes of the
Kansas City Interfaith Council’s
Personhood Task Force
November 8, 2003
At the Christian Science Facility
At the Red Bridge Mall

Members present: Kara Hawkins, American Indian Spirituality, Task Force Chair; Barb McAtee, Bahai; Vanessa Shields, Buddhism; Pam Peck, Christian Science; Ted Otteson, Unitarian Universalist;and Karta Purkh Khalsa, Sikh.
 

Received regrets from Arvind Khetia, Vedanta; Cathy Knight, Sufi.

Members absent: Sharon Connors, Unity; Padma (and Kris Krishna), Hindu; Caroline Baughman, Pagan; Jessica Ovel, Catholic.  Jack Mulligan, Catholic member, has agreed to remain as a consultant for our group, but can no longer attend meetings.

Opening
Karta Purkh Khalsa opened our meeting with meditation to center and open our group to Spirit for the work we had come to do.

Background

We have come to the consensus that the loss of the spiritual or sacred is at the heart of personal crisis within our communities. We have identified the core of the crisis and its symptoms. We have all agreed that education and community outreach is part of its healing (from notes of our September 25, and November 8, 2003 meetings):
 

Identification of Crises
        Addiction, depression, mental illness, crime, abuse to self and others; prejudice, injustice, suicide, and illness; have all been identified as some of the symptoms of personal crisis within our communities.  At our November 8 meeting, Ted Otteson offered a very important addition to this list: The loss of the elders; i.e., the grandmothers? and grandfathers? to serve as models of behavior for children and adults to strive for. More importantly, it was agreed that a society without means and focus on intent to transition youth to adult, or adult to elder; spiritual, mental and emotional growth is arrested within such society.
 

Identification of the Core of Crises
1.  The Spiritual Component; i.e., the sense of interconnection and interrelatedness is missing within one's community and/or personal life.

2.  Religious communities and/or religious leaders are not in alignment with their faith directives of "Love Thy Neighbor".

3.  The arrested development mentally, socially, emotionally and spiritually that comes of a society that does not have means to transition children to adult and adult to elder.

4.  The loss of the elders; i.e., the grandmothers and grandfathers to serve as models of behavior for children and adults to strive for.

5.  Media is driven by the bottom line (attracting viewers, sponsorship, readers) and as such, sets criteria of what is news with sensationalism,
concentration on violence and what is wrong with society; rather than addressing issues and other areas of community and world importance.

6.  Community, government, church, and corporate officials are not held accountable for actions by their faith communities.
 

Identification of Methods for Healing Personal Crises
1.  Education:  Ignorance breeds prejudice.

2.  Community outreach and resources

--interfaith gatherings such as the Conference
--interfaith study groups and discussions
--hotlines and folks available to help others in crises
3.  Taking religious, community, government, and corporate officials to task when their actionsare not in alignment with their professed faith beliefs.

4.  Getting involved with the media, the KC Star, e.g., and Helen Gray, Religion Editor.
 

Identification of What We Can Personally Do Within our Faith Communities

Identification of What Our Personal Task Force Can Do

1.  Develop provocative propositions.

2.  Identify, celebrate, and support groups who foster healing of the spirit.

3.  Gather resources.
 

At our last meeting, September 25, 2003, we had a chance to discuss with David Nelson, the CRES board's plans to reorganize and the ways it might impact the KC Interfaith Council (KCIFC) and our PTF future and goals. From our discussion and understanding, we came to the consensus that:

1) The Personal Task Force would continue as an entity of the KCIFC.

2) Our PTF goals would continue; though the emphasis on priorities will rest with us until such time as the CRES Board and the KCIFC have come to resolution regarding their relationship; and the KCIFC has decided upon a date for the next Interfaith Conference.

Our focus at this meeting of November 8, 2003, was to hone in on the PTF tasks we've generated for ourselves over the last year and a half, set priorities and assign
members to oversee specific tasks, with a vision toward integrating within our faith communities, ourselves, and the Greater Kansas City area, the insight and wisdom
we've gained as a PTF group. Each member assigned a specific task, would be responsible for communicating with other members of the PTF to gain more complete understanding, information and consensus concerning the task to which he or she has been assigned, and develop it into a working document for the next meeting. All PTF members, however, will be responsible for the content of any document regarding their respective faith groups.

 Assignments and updates of each of our tasks as of November 8, 2003, are as follows:

Task I, Part 1 Personal Crisis Faith Declaration
Assigned to Kara Hawkins
 

TASK I, Part 1. Addressing PERSONHOOD portion of the Kansas City Interfaith Conference Concluding Declaration: "We have also learned that our true personhood may not be in the images of ourselves constrained by any particular social identities. When we realize this, our acts can proceed spontaneously from duty and compassion, and we need not be unduly attached to results beyond our control.


Task I, Part 2 Compilation of the Exploration of Individual Faith Observances
Assigned to Karta Purkh Khalsa

Task II:  Recruiting Additional Faith Participation for the PTF; e.g., Muslim, Judaism, Zoroastrianism

Assigned to Barb McAtee

Task III  Life is a Series of Transformations: Addressing development of spiritual consciousness within society and the loss of its sages;

Assigned to Ted Otteson

Task VI  Developing a Faith Community Resource for Spiritual Development that will include three parts:
 

·         Emergency Spiritual First Aid: Assigned to Kara Hawkins

·         Preventative Care: Assigned to Pam Peck

·         Personal, Conscious and Spiritual Development: Assigned to All Members (task leader not yet named)
 

Our November 8, 2003 meeting closed in contemplative words by Ted Otteson.

Next meeting, January 22, 2004 at the Red Bridge Christian Science facility.

Respectfully submitted,

Kara Hawkins, PTF Task Leader
 
 

Meeting Notes of the
Kansas City Interfaith Council’s
Personhood Task Force
November 8, 2003
   At the Christian Science Facility
At the Red Bridge Mall

Members present: Kara Hawkins, American Indian Spirituality, Task Force Chair; Barb McAtee, Bahai; Vanessa Shields, Buddhism; Pam Peck, Christian Science; Ted Otteson, Unitarian Universalist; and Karta Purkh Khalsa, Sikh.

Received regrets from Arvind Khetia, Vedanta; Cathy Knight, Sufi.

Members absent: Sharon Connors, Unity; Padma (and Kris Krishna), Hindu; Caroline Baughman, Pagan; Jessica Ovel, Catholic.
Jack Mulligan, Catholic member, has agreed to remain as a consultant for our group, but can no longer attend meetings.

Opening
Karta Purkh Khalsa opened our meeting with meditation to center and open our group to Spirit for the work we had come to do.

Background of Our Work in Studying Personal Crises
We have come to the consensus that the loss of the spiritual or sacred is at the heart of personal crises within our communities. We have identified the core of the crises and its symptoms. We have all agreed that education and community outreach is part of its healing (from notes of our September 25, and November 8, 2003 meetings):

Identification of Crises
Addiction, depression, mental illness, crime, abuse to self and others; prejudice, injustice, suicide, and illness; have all been identified as some of the symptoms of personal crises within our communities.  At our November 8 meeting, Ted Otteson offered a very important addition to this list: The loss of the elders; i.e., the grandmothers and the grandfathers who in years past have served as models of behavior for children and adults to strive for. More importantly, it was agreed that a society without means and focus on intent to transition youth to adult, or adult to elder; spiritual, mental and emotional growth is arrested within such society.

Identification of the Core of Personal Crises
1. The Spiritual Component; i.e., the sense of interconnection and interrelatedness, is missing within ones community and/or personal life.

2. Religious communities and/or religious leaders are not in alignment with their faith directives of Love Thy Neighbor.

3. The arrested development mentally, socially, emotionally and spiritually that comes of a society that does not have means to transition children to adult and adult to
elder.

4. The loss of the elders; i.e., the grandmothers and grandfathers to serve as models of behavior for children and adults to strive for.

5. The Media is driven by the bottom line (attracting viewers, sponsorship, readers) and as such, sets criteria of what is news by focusing on sensationalism, concentration on violence and what is wrong with society; rather than addressing issues and other areas of community and world importance.

6. Community, government, church, and corporate officials are not held accountable for actions by their faith communities.

Identification of Methods for Healing Personal Crises
1. Education; Ignorance breeds prejudice.

2.  Develop community outreach and resources.

           a) Interfaith gatherings such as the KC Interfaith Conference.

           b) Interfaith study groups and discussions.

           c)  Hotlines and folks available to help others in crises

3. Take religious, community, government, and corporate officials to task when their actions are not in alignment with their professed faith beliefs.

4.Get involved with the media, the KC Star's Religion Editor.
 

Identification of What Our Personal Task Force Can Do Aid in the Healing of Personal Crises
1. Develop provocative propositions.

2. Identify, celebrate, and support groups who foster healing of the spirit.

3.  Gather resources.

At our September 25, 2003 meeting we had an opportunity to discuss with David Nelson, the CRES board's plans to reorganize and the ways it might impact the KC Interfaith Council (KCIFC) and our PTF future and goals. From our discussion and understanding, we came to the consensus that:

1. The PTF would continue as an entity of the KCIFC.

2. Our PTF goals would continue though the emphasis on priorities will rest with us until such time as the CRES Board and the KCIFC have come to resolution egarding their relationship; and the KCIFC has decided upon a date for the next Interfaith Conference.

Our focus at this meeting of November 8, 2003, was to hone in on the PTF tasks we've generated for ourselves over the last year and a half, set priorities and assign members to oversee specific tasks, with a vision toward integrating within our faith communities, ourselves, and the Greater Kansas City area, the insight and wisdom we've gained as a PTF group. Each member assigned a specific task, would be responsible for communicating with other members of the PTF to gain more complete understanding, information and consensus concerning the task to which he or she has been assigned, and develop it into a working document for the next meeting. All PTF members, however, will be responsible for the content of any document regarding their respective faith groups.

 Assignments and updates of each of our tasks as of November 8, 2003, are as follows:

Task I, Part 1 Personal Crisis Faith Declaration
Assigned to Kara Hawkins

TASK I Part 1.    Addressing PERSONHOOD portion of the Kansas City Interfaith Conference's Concluding Declaration: We have also learned that our true personhood may not be in the images of ourselves constrained by any particular social identities. When we realize this, our acts can proceed spontaneously from duty and compassion, and we need not be unduly attached to results beyond our control.


Task I, Part 2    Compilation of the Exploration of Individual Faith Observances
Assigned to Kharta Purkh Khalsa

Task II    Recruiting Additional Faith Participation for the PTF; e.g., Muslim, Judaism, Zoroastrianism
Assigned to Barb McAtee

Task III    Life is a Series of Transformations.  Addressing development of spiritual consciousness within society and the loss of its sages;
Assigned to Ted Otteson

Task VI   Developing a Faith Community Resource for Spiritual Development that will include three parts:

1. Emergency Spiritual First Aid
Assigned to Kara Hawkins

 2. Preventative Care
Assigned to Pam Peck

3. Personal, Conscious and Spiritual Development
Assigned to All Members (task leader not yet named)

Our November 8, 2003 meeting closed in contemplative words by Ted Otteson.

Next meeting, January 22, 2004 at the Red Bridge Christian Science facility.

Respectfully submitted,

Kara Hawkins, PTF Task Leader


Meeting Notes of the
Kansas City Interfaith Council’s
Personhood Task Force

Meeting of September 19, 2002
All Souls Unitarian Church
4501 Walnut
Kansas City, Missouri

6:30 p.m.

Prior to our official opening of the meeting, Vern Barnet met with those gathered to ask for help in critiquing and editing the CRES – Kansas City’s Interfaith Network’s “The World’s Religions: Pieces or Pattern?” This request was acknowledged and will be added to the tasks we have set for ourselves as Task VI. Present were members: Kara Hawkins, American Indian Spirituality; Jack Mulligan, Catholic; Jessica Ovel, Catholic; Pam Peck, Christian Science; Cathy Knight, Sufi; and Ted Otteson, Unitarian Universalist. Regrets from Barb McAtee, Baha’i; Vanessa Shields, Buddhism; and Sharon Connors, Unity.

1.    Opening Prayer – Christian Science, Pam Peck

2.    Announcing new members (who were unable to attend):

Barb McAtee - Baha’i
Padma Krishna - Hindu
Sharon Connors - Unity
Arvind Khetia - Vedanta
3.    Agenda Additions – Jack Mulligan asked for critique and suggestions for his submissions, (see Task I Part 2 below) We will open our next meeting with this task, November 21st, which will now become Part II of Task I. Copies of Jack’s submissions will be made available for new members.

4.    Announcements

·    Sufi Camp October 11-15, 2002
·    Christian Science lecture under the Clock Tower in Overland Park, Noon, Saturday, September 28, 2002.
5.    TASKS
·    TASK I – Part 1. Addressing PERSONHOOD portion of the Kansas City Interfaith Conference’s Concluding Declaration:

“We have also learned that our true personhood may not be in the images of ourselves constrained by any particular social identities. When we realize this, our acts can proceed spontaneously from duty and compassion, and we need not be unduly attached to results beyond our control.”

We worked together on the wording; all agreed it needs to be simplified for the reader to comprehend and expanded to be more inclusive. We agreed to write it in such a way to say more of what Personhood is, rather than what it is not and change the unwieldy phrase, “…we need not be unduly attached.” We discussed the inner meanings of “transcend” and “transcendence” according to our religious views; also, “tangible” and “intangible”. It was agreed by all that the importance of relationship and interconnection with all things (the Great Web of Life) needs to be included. We talked of the need to convey responsiveness rather than reactive ness; of integration and of self realization.

Our working rewrite thus far is:

“…our true Personhood may transcend the images of ourselves constrained by any particular social, cultural or religious identities. As we come to realize we are each a part of All That Is, our acts can proceed spontaneously from duty and compassion with less attachment and feelings of responsibility for the outcome of events beyond our control.”

As we continue to contemplate the PERSONHOOD segment of the Declaration, we will consider: WHAT IS IT SAYING? WHAT DO WE WANT IT TO SAY? WHAT IS OUR VISION? HOW CAN WE EXPAND UPON IT?

TASK I – Part 2. By November 21, Personhood Task Force Members will continue to contribute to our ongoing effort to explore the following as it relates to his or her understanding shaped by both personal experience and understanding of the faith community he or she is a member of and be prepared to share with the group:

·    PERSONHOOD – more of what it is than what it is not. Who are we?
·    SPIRITUALITY – more as experienced personally, rather than as religion or religious writings define it.
·    IDENTITY & RELATIONSHIP – as it relates to ethics and ethical life.
·    SUFFERING – its meaning, its cause, its healing
·    FRAGMENTATION – as it relates to Personhood Crises.
·    SOUL/SPIRIT – as it relates to Personhood.
·    CRISES – identify crises as if pertains to Personhood.
Submissions thus far: (contact individual members for copies of listed submissions.):

Kara Hawkins, American Indian Spirituality

·    “Personhood/Spirituality/Identity & Relationship Fragmentation.”
·    “The Traditional Indian Code of Ethics”
Jack Mulligan, Catholicism
·    “Ancient Words in Search of Deeds”
·    “Suggestions for CRES Task Force on Personhood”
o    Appendix I “Spirituality, Ethics and Suffering”
o    Attachment to Appendix I, “Ecumenical/Interfaith Study of Love of Enemy”
o    Appendix II “Possible Materials and Methods for Expansion of Adult Education in the         Long-Term”
·    Seven Decades of One Person’s Experiences with the Roman Catholic Tradition
Pam Peck, Christian Science
·    “A Christian Science Perspective” – Quotations from the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy.
·    “Testimonies of Christian Science Healing”
·    “Daily Prayer” from the Christian Science Church Manual.
Cathy Knight, Sufi
·    “Personhood”
·    Sufi Order International’s “Who We Are: Prayers”
·    Flyer for the October 11-15, 2002 Sufi Camp “All My Relations”
TASK II Addressing PROVOCATIVE PROPOSITIONS in Gathering Process suggestions from David Nelson for the Three Task Forces:

“Develop provocative propositions which define the way we are in the Heart of America. Provocative Propositions describe an ideal state of circumstances that will foster the climate that creates the possibilities to do more of what works. The purpose of provocative propositions is to keep our best at a conscious level. They are ways to describe the archetypes (patterns or symbols) of our community. They are symbolic statements because they have meaning well beyond words, reminding us of what is best about faith communities and how everyone can participate in creating more of the best. These propositions are derived from stories that actually took place, therefore are grounded in history, tradition, and facts…”

TASK: By next meeting date, November 21, members will continue to offer “Provocative Propositions” (i.e., an archetype or symbolic statement, e.g., “Love Thine Enemy,”) with an accompanying faith story.

Please see Pam Peck’s submission, “Testimonies of Christian Science Healing”

Suggestions were given: “overcoming limitations,” “the innocence of the child,” “believing in things.”
Pam Peck spoke of MOSAIC’S Story Project, its purpose to overcome hatred through racism, by offering community narrative of “what works,” the positive; in either a play or story form.

TASK III Addressing the task of identifying, celebrating and supporting groups and individuals doing work in this area:

TASK: By next meeting date, November 21, we will continue our ongoing practice of bringing notices of events and names of individuals within our respective faith groups that will serve as a working resource list of what is working in our community as it relates to issues affecting PERSONHOOD that will include the lesser-known faith traditions. This resource might include coming of age ceremonies and rituals, programs for youth, recovery, spiritual healing; spiritual renewal; drumming groups, etc.

Pam Peck introduced Connect With Kansas City – Ways to Engage in the Community by Sandy James, (913) 333-1880, Simon & Shuster, ISBN 0-9713210-0-0.

“All My Relations” – Sufi Camp Flier, submitted by Cathy Knight.

TASK IV - Our ongoing task of working toward having more faith representation in THE KANSAS CITY STAR’S Faith Section, as per Kara Hawkins’ discussion with Helen Gray, Faith Editor.

Team Leader, Kara Hawkins, will serve as liaison, or clearinghouse for our letters, editing them for submission to Helen Gray. As per Kara and Helen Gray’s phone conversation, Gray will not change the makeup of the regular group of panelists that respond to readers’ questions. However, as she does select from a pool of writers once a month who are other than regular contributors, our members may have a chance at becoming a part of this pool. Prospective member contributors need to demonstrate that they do indeed represent their faith by supporting credentials and also that they demonstrate good writing and editing skills. Gray does not want to have to edit your material.

TASK: November 21, we’ll settle on one or two questions that our respective faith groups will respond to in this regard.

Questions thus far submitted:

o    Jessica Ovel, Catholic
§    Why should a person be part of a faith community?
§    Should we love our enemy, and if so, how?
TASK V. Putting Into Practice Task Force Suggestions:
o    November 21, we will continue to share prayers and readings with each other from our own faith tradition. Prayers for meditation and contemplation, guidance and personal growth.

o    Members are continuing to seek Islam, Sikh, Wicca or Pagan, and Zoroastrian participation for our Task Force. Update on efforts of Vanessa Shields – follow up on Islam possibility; and Pam Peck, whose son might be able to attend, who is learned in Eastern Religions; especially, Confucianism.

Kara has enlisted Barbara Walley of the Goddess/Earth Based faith tradition; and is talking to Kharta Purka Khalsa who has promised to send us a Sikh participant.
o    All members are or are going to be participating in the PASSPORT program, a MOSAIC activity sponsored by CRES.
TASK VI. “The World’s Religions: Pieces or Pattern?” Updating, critiquing, and suggestions requested by Vern Barnet.
TASK: By November 21, look through the above and offer any comments you may have.
6. Next Meeting’s Plans
·    November 21, 2002 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., All Souls Unitarian Church, 4501 Walnut, Kansas City, MO.
·    Additional Items for Next Meeting’s Agenda – please submit to Kara Hawkins, Team Leader.
·    Opening and Closing Prayer leaders for November 21: Ted Otteson, Unitarian Universalist Opening Prayer; Jessica Ovel, Catholic, Closing Prayer.
·    Refreshments – Please bring something to share.
7. Closing Prayer: Cathy Knight, Sufi

Respectfully submitted, Kara Hawkins, Team Leader


Agenda, Kansas City Interfaith Council Personhood Task Force
1st Meeting July 11, 2002

1. Opening Prayer – American Indian Spirituality

2. Task Force Member Addresses (handout)
 a)   Updating web site – check spelling of names/addresses etc. on tonight’s list.
b) Since our initial meeting,  additional faiths contacted:
1) Hindu – Dr. Padma Krishna has accepted; could not make tonight; we’ll need to schedule on night other than second Thursday of month, because of staff meeting.
2) Bahai – Emilia and Simeon Rabanni, KC IFC members visiting July 11th,  tonight.
3) Faiths not yet participating in addition to Bahai: Islam, Judaism, Sikh, Wicca and Zoroastrianism. Will continue to work with Gene Flanery to recruit.

3. As there are two Roman Catholics members, Mulligan/Ovel will be consensus members with one vote – agreed?

4. Task Force Notebooks
 I’m putting together faith notebooks in three ring binders – cost to me for printing and notebooks is about $8.00/person for anyone interested. Will include index sheets and the KC IFC Religion Notebook (66 pages). These thirteen faith traditions were put together by our IFC members. Sample to look at.

5. Gathering Process Suggestions for the Three Task Forces (handout) and Expected Outcomes handout.

a) Addressing the PERSONHOOD part of the Conference’s Concluding Declaration.

“We have also learned that our true personhood may not be in the images of ourselves constrained by any particular social identities. When we realize this, our acts can proceed spontaneously from duty and compassion, and we need not be unduly attached to results beyond our control.”

1) What is it saying?
2) What do we want it to say?
3) How might it be said more simply, and understandably to reflect the crises we personally face and our healing approaches to it?
4) What is our vision?
5) How would we write it?

b. Developing “provocative propositions” – stories grounded in fact, history and tradition that are symbolic statements of what is best about our faith communities.

c. Identify, celebrate and support groups and individuals who are doing this work in our area; including listing in Many Paths and CRES web site.

UPDATE ON HELEN GRAY.

· Develop a question we can all write responses to. Let’s have a question formulated for our next meeting.
· When our Personhood Task Force has responded to this question; we’ll send it as a group to Helen Gray. There will be no change in the panel for now; however, she does draw from a number of other reputable sources once a month. We must prove ourselves to be good editors, and demonstrate a good understanding of our faith’s tradition and teachings.
· I’ve agreed to serve as the initial editor for our group’s questions and responses.
· Offering this opportunity to the SOCIAL and ENVIRONMENTAL task forces.
·
d.  Identifying gaps between our vision and reality.

e. What steps might we take to bring vision and reality into alignment.

6. Discussion of Jack Mulligan’s Suggestions for CRES TASK FORCE on PERSONHOOD and its relations to Gathering Process and Outcomes Suggestions

a. What is the ideal here for our faith tradition…of PERSONHOOD. For example, the Native Americans believe it is
· when the person is fully aligned with Spirit; physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
· Fragmentation is a break in this alignment; whether it be spiritually, physically, mentally, or emotionally.
· Healing is the bringing back into alignment of the person’s whole being, physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

b. Examples of personal fragmentation:

· Depression
· Addiction on all levels: substances, consumerism, power, sex, religion; etc.
· Ill health
· Violence and crime
· Anxiety
· Dependencies
· Prejudice and Hate
· Loss of a sense of direction
· Unconnected
· Others:
 

c. The Declaration states the problem as “not being in the images of ourselves constrained by any particular social identities.” How would we define it. Come back next time with your ideas. My thought is that there is a big gap between “what we are not” and what we hope to become. If we are not,

 WHAT ARE WE?

From there we can go to realization, our acts can proceed spontaneously from duty and compassion, and we need not be unduly attached to results beyond our control.

         WHAT DOES YOUR FAITH TRADITION TELL US!

7. Putting into practice Interfaith suggestions:
a) We’ll open and close our meetings with prayers from our own faith tradition’s understanding; today we began with American Indian Spirituality; we’ll close with Roman Catholic.
b) Do we each have prayers we can share with another to meditate on subjects pertinent to personal spiritual growth?
c) Beginning a Spirituality Resource List
d) Promoting Interfaith activities in our congregation…how can we start?
e) What resources are in place now within your faith community?
f) Consulting other leaders: include leaders in the lesser known traditions; such as American Indian; Baha’i.  Can you identify your leaders?
g) The importance of our efforts being meaningful, not only to academia, but to our community. How can we translate our understanding into meaningful programs to uplift ourselves now, our families, our community.
h) How can we attract youth who are disenchanted with religion. How can we speak to the spiritual side of each other, whether youth or old. Within our faith community. What is in place now that works for you; how might it work for us.
 

SUMMARY:
For our next meeting’s date of
I commit to:
CLOSING PRAYER: Jack Mulligan – Roman Catholic
THANK YOU, Pam Peck and Kara Hawkins for our Refreshments.


Kansas City Interfaith Council’s Personhood Task Force
Meeting Report of July 11, 2002

Submitted by Team Leader, Kara Hawkins

I. Addressing the PERSONHOOD part of the Kansas City Interfaith Conference’s Concluding Declaration:

“We have also learned that our true personhood may not be in the images of ourselves constrained by any particular social identities. When we realize this, our acts can proceed spontaneously from duty and compassion, and we need not be unduly attached to results beyond our control.”

 TASK: By September 19, each Personhood Task Force Member will begin an ongoing effort to explore the following as it relates to his or her understanding shaped by both personal experience and understanding of the faith community he or she is a member of and be prepared to share with the group:

· PERSONHOOD – more of what it is than what it is not. Who are we?
· SPIRITUALITY – more as experienced personally, rather than as religion or religious writings define it.
· IDENTITY & RELATIONSHIP – as it relates to ethics and ethical life.
· SUFFERING – its meaning, its cause, its healing
· FRAGMENTATION – as it relates to Personhood Crises.
· SOUL/SPIRIT – as it relates to Personhood.
· CRISES – identify crises as if pertains to Personhood.

As we continue to contemplate the PERSONHOOD segment of the Declaration, we will consider:  WHAT IS IT SAYING? WHAT DO WE WANT IT TO SAY? WHAT IS OUR VISION? HOW CAN WE EXPAND UPON IT.
 

II. Addressing PROVOCATIVE PROPOSITIONS in Gathering Process suggestions from David Nelson for the Three Task Forces:

“Develop provocative propositions which define the way we are in the Heart of America. Provocative Propositions describe an ideal state of circumstances that will foster the climate that creates the possibilities to do more of what works. The purpose of provocative propositions is to keep our best at a conscious level. They are ways to describe the archetypes (patterns or symbols) of our community. They are symbolic statements because they have meaning well beyond words, reminding us of what is best about faith communities and how everyone can participate in creating more of the best. These propositions are derived from stories that actually took place, therefore are grounded in history, tradition, and facts…”

TASK:   By next meeting date, September 19, each member will offer a “Provocative Proposition”,  an archetype or symbolic statement, e.g., “Love Thy Enemy,” with an accompanying faith story.

III. Addressing the task of identifying, celebrating and supporting groups and individuals doing work in this area:

TASK:  By next meeting date, September 19, we begin an ongoing practice of bringing  notices of events and names of individuals within our respective faith groups that will serve as a working resource list of what is working in our community as it relates to issues affecting PERSONHOOD, that will include the lesser-known faith traditions. This resource might include “coming of age ceremonies and rituals, programs for youth, recovery, spiritual healing; spiritual renewal; drumming groups, etc.  Pam Peck introduced  a new Kansas City Spiritual resource book, information of which she will give us next meeting.

IV. Putting Into Practice Task Force Suggestions

· Having begun at this meeting with Opening and Closing Prayers by Kara, American Indian Spirituality, and Jack Mulligan, Roman Catholic, we will continue this practice for our future meetings, alternating faith participation.

TASK:  Next meeting, September 19, Pam Peck, Christian Scientist, will open and Cathy Knight, Sufi, will close our meeting.

· Our ongoing task of working toward having more faith representation in THE KANSAS CITY STAR’S Faith Section, as per Kara Hawkins’ discussion with Helen Gray, Faith Editor,

TASK:  September 19, we’ll settle on one or two questions that our respective faith groups will respond to. Team Leader, Kara Hawkins, will serve as liaison, or clearinghouse for our letters, editing them for submission to Helen Gray. As per Kara and Helen Gray’s phone conversation, Gray will not change the makeup of the regular group of panelists that respond to readers’ questions.  However, as she does select from a pool of writers once a month who are other than regular contributors, our members may have a chance at becoming a part of this pool. Prospective member contributors  need to demonstrate that they do indeed represent their faith by supporting credentials and also that they demonstrate good writing and editing skills. Gray does not want to have to edit your material.

· TASK: September 19, we will begin to share prayers and readings with each other from our own faith tradition. Prayers for meditation and contemplation, guidance and personal growth. Jack Mulligan, Roman Catholic, has shared with us his interfaith suggestions and vision; Ted Otteson, for our contemplation and future dialogue, passed out Modernity-Dignity and Disaster. It speaks to the fragmentation of our society as brought about by Modernity.

V. Members are continuing to seek Islam, Sikh, Wicca or Pagan, and Zorostrianism rparticipation for our Task Force. Vanessa Shields will follow up on an Islam possibility; Pam Peck’s son might be able to attend, who is learned in Eastern Religions; especially, Confucianism. Our new members are BAHA’I, Barbara McAtee, UNITY, Sharon Connors, Unity Observer for CRES, and HINDU, Dr. Padma Krishna.

VI. All members are or are going to be participating in the PASSPORT program, a MOSAIC activity sponsored by CRES.

VII Next meeting, September 19, 2002 we are tentatively scheduled to meet at Ted Otteson’s church, All Souls Unitarian Church located at 4501 Walnut, in Kansas City; this site will be confirmed in a later memo.

Respectfully submitted,
Kara Hawkins, Team Leader



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